System and method for identification and location of user identified feature specific printers

ABSTRACT

A system and method for identification and location of user identified, feature specific printers works in conjunction with a user&#39;s smartphone or tablet computer. A user inputs their desired printer features into their device, and a listing of candidate printers within a search perimeter is rendered. A distance between the user device and each candidate printer is calculated from a determined location user device relative to locations of each of the candidate printers. The user selects their desired printer from the candidates, and directions for the user to walk to the selected printer are generated and displayed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/797,179 filed on Feb. 21, 2020, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and made part ofthe present U.S. utility patent application for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to printing via portable data devicessuch as smartphones or tablet computers. The application relates moreparticularly to identifying to users available printers that meet theuser's current needs, and guiding users to a selected printer'slocation.

BACKGROUND

Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners ande-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of thesefunctions are found in office environments. These devices are referredto as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs).As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or incombination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is furtherunderstood that any suitable document processing device can be used.

MFPs are typically used in networked environments so the devices can beshared by multiple users. Early systems employed user workstationsconnected to MFPs via a data network. More recently, printing isundertaken in conjunction with wireless networking employing portableuser devices such as smartphones and tablets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to thefollowing description, appended claims and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an example embodiment of a system for identification andlocation of user identified, feature specific printers;

FIG. 2 is an example embodiment of a networked digital device such as amultifunction peripheral;

FIG. 3 is an example embodiment of a portable user device such as asmartphone or tablet computer;

FIG. 4 is a hardware block diagram of example embodiment of an MFP usedin connection identification and location of user identified, featurespecific printers;

FIG. 5 is an example embodiment of communication flow between amultifunction peripheral and a portable user data device;

FIG. 6 is a first example embodiment of a user touchscreen devicedisplay sequence for a mobile app printing device search;

FIG. 7 is a second example embodiment of a user touchscreen devicedisplay sequence for a mobile app printing device search; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example embodiment of an identification andlocation of user identified, feature specific MFPs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by wayof examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciatedthat modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements,configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods,systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specificapplication. In this disclosure, any identification of specifictechniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific examplepresented or are merely a general description of such a technique,arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples arenot intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory orlimiting unless specifically designated as such.

The adoption of mobile devices and apps in a business environment hasbenefited staffs and faculties tremendously by providing them withflexibility and work portability, allowing them to submit their jobsfrom anywhere with network connection. Users are can process and managetheir documents with MFP service using applications from their mobiledevice, such as smartphones and tablet computers. The user may berequired to know an MFP's address, such as its IP address,functionalities and location in order to use its capabilities. However,users may not be aware of a device's capabilities, and knowing adevice's address is of no help to a user who may not know where an MFPis physically located.

Portable data devices may use a suitable MFP interface system tointeract with devices in their network. An example is with installationof an e-BRIDGE Print & Capture app by Toshiba TEC. Devices so configuredallow users to output data easily from mobile devices and from filesstored in the cloud. When there's a sudden need to output a document, ason a business trip, users can get it right away. Data scanned by an MFPcan be downloaded to a mobile device or uploaded to the cloud for easydata sharing.

In addition to the forgoing, it would be advantageous to enable user tosearch for specific printer's capabilities in the network, such asfirmware, model, functionalities, distance, and the like rather thanjust provide the user with a list of nearby printers by IP address orname. Users may wish to only discover printers with specific propertiesin accordance with their print requirements. In addition, when the userfinds the IP address, they cannot determine the location of the MFP. Theuser may be able to connect to the device, but cannot determine thelocation to which their job is physically being sent. This can causeproblems when the user has no prior knowledge of the MFP's location,such as with a new employee or a visitor, or when an IP address of theMFP changes.

Example embodiments herein teach a dynamic search for printers'capabilities that allows the user to input keywords or phrases whentrying to locate specific printers nearby which meet their needs. Whenthe user is returned with the list of nearby printers, each printer'sproximity is displayed. With a user selection, such as by clicking on a“GO” button, a map application is launched. The map application uses theprinter's geo location queried from the printer as the destinationcoordinate, commencing at a current location of the user's device.

In accordance with the subject application, FIG. 1 illustrates anexample embodiment of a system 100 for identification and location ofuser identified, feature specific printers, such as MFPs. The exampleillustrates MFPs 104, 108, 112 and 116, all of which are with a devicesearch perimeter 120 associated with portable user device 124,illustrated as a smartphone. Device in the illustration are in mutualdata communication via network cloud 128, suitably comprised of anywireless or wired network, such as a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN) which may comprise the Internet, or any suitablecombination thereof. Example wireless data exchange is via Wi-Fi, suchas with access point 132.

Devices of FIG. 1 are associated with a location. The MFPs, for example,may be supplied with location information when they are installed. MFPsgenerally operate from a fixed location once installed, so thisinformation would be static until such time a device may be relocated.Positioning information may also be determined for MFPs by any suitablepositioning system, such by use of the Global Positioning System (GPS).Positioning outside of the reach of a GPS beacon may be done by asuitable indoor positioning system such as Wi-Fi positioning, forexample when a device connects to one or more Wi-Fi access points orhotspots having known locations. In such situations, further locationinformation can determined by relative signal strength of a Wi-Ficonnection. Indoor position information may also be obtained by use ofbeacon information other than GPS. For example, Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE) beacons, such as BLE beacon 136, can be positioned in knownlocations on a premises and broadcast their position information. Unlikestatically placed MFPs, the position of a smartphone 124 is transient.Accordingly, determination of its position is suitably accomplishedwirelessly, such as with the examples detailed above.

Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is touchscreen input display 140 ofsmartphone 124. As will be detailed further below, such a device userinterface is suitably used to secure a user's printer capabilityrequirements to list one or more devices in their corresponding searchperimeter that meet those needs. In the example, MFPs have differentcapabilities, such as different finishing options, such as color, holepunching, stapling, duplexing, or the like. A user may wish to isolate asubset of compatible MFPs to those having specified software orfirmware, including software versions. Display 140 provides indicia asto available MFPs, along with a distance or duration to be reached bythe smartphone user. Calculated distance can generate an approximatetime to walk from an original position of a user device to a selectedMFP. Although walking speeds can vary greatly depending on many factorssuch as height, weight, age, terrain, surface, load, culture, effort,and fitness, it has been found, for example, that the average humanwalking speed is about 5.0 kilometers per hour (km/h), or about 1.4meters per second (m/s), or about 3.1 miles per hour (mph). Otherfactors that can influence a user's MFP selection decision includewhether the user chooses to remain in a current building or on a currentfloor. Time to ascend or descend staircases, or average elevatorwait/transport times can also be factored in.

When a user makes a selection of an MFP from the listed subset, thesystem provides map information, suitably showing the selected devicelocation and routing to get there. In the example of FIG. 1 , datastorage and calculations to accomplish the forgoing are suitablyaccomplished on one or more MFPs, the user device, or a network server,such as server 144.

Turning now to FIG. 2 illustrated is an example embodiment of anetworked digital device comprised of document rendering system 200suitably comprised within an MFP, such as with MFPs 104, 108, 112 and116 of FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated that an MFP includes anintelligent controller 201 which is itself a computer system. Includedin controller 201 are one or more processors, such as that illustratedby processor 202. Each processor is suitably associated withnon-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 204, and randomaccess memory (RAM) 206, via a data bus 212.

Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208for reading or writing data with storage 216, suitably comprised of ahard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or anyother suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art.

Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214,which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physicalnetwork connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via a wirelessnetwork interface, such as WiFi 218. Example wireless connectionsinclude cellular, Wi-Fi, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB),satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB,IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Wirelessconnection information is suitably used for a determination of locationas noted above. Processor 202 is also in data communication with ahardware monitor 221, suitably amassing state data from subassemblies,sensors, digital thermometers, or the like, and suitably includingdigital state date including device codes, such as device error codes.Processor 202 can also be in data communication a document processorinterface 222, with Bluetooth interface 226 and NFC interface 228 viadata path 212. Bluetooth interface 226 suitably comprises a datainterface from a BLE beacon for location determination as noted above.

Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable userinput/output (I/O) interface (not shown) which provides datacommunication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice,track balls, touch screens, or the like.

Document processor interface 222 is suitable for data communication withMFP functional units 250. In the illustrate example, these units includea copy engine, suitably comprised of copy hardware 240, a scan engine,suitably comprised of scan hardware 242, a print engine, suitablycomprised of print hardware 244 and a fax engine, suitably comprised offax hardware 246. These subsystems together comprise MFP functionalhardware 250. It will be understood that functional units are suitablycomprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware orsoftware platform.

Turning now to FIG. 3 , illustrated is an example of a digital devicesystem 300 suitably comprising smartphone 124 of FIG. 1 . Included areone or more processors, such as that illustrated by processor 304. Eachprocessor is suitably associated with non-volatile memory, such as readonly memory (ROM) 310 and random access memory (RAM) 312, via a data bus314.

Processor 304 is also in data communication with a storage interface 306for reading or writing to a data storage system 308, suitably comprisedof a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, or any other suitabledata storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Processor 304 is also in data communication with a network interfacecontroller (NIC) 330, which provides a data path to any suitable networkor device connection, such as a suitable wireless data connection viawireless network interface 338. A suitable data connection to an MFP orserver is via a data network, such as a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN), which may comprise the Internet, or any suitablecombination thereof. A digital data connection is also suitably directlywith an MFP or server, such as via Bluetooth, optical data transfer,Wi-Fi direct, or the like.

Processor 304 is also in data communication with a user input/output(I/O) interface 340 which provides data communication with userperipherals, such as touch screen display 344 via display generator 346,as well as keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. Itwill be understood that functional units are suitably comprised ofintelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.Processor 304 is also in data communication with Bluetooth Interface 348and GPS interface 350, one or both being usable for locationdetermination as noted above.

FIG. 4 is a hardware block diagram 400 of an MFP used in connectionidentification and location of user identified, feature specificprinters. Controller 404 interfaces with printing system 408, as well asuser I/O interface 412. I/O interface 412, in turn, interacts with auser interface including display 416. Display elements 420 includedisplay output from printer applications 422, background images 424 andicons 426 which are suitably stored in printer storage 418. Also in datacommunication with controller 404 is a document finishing system 430which includes printer properties, such as document rendering properties438. In the illustrated example, these include finisher properties 440,such as collating, stapling or hole punching, toner color properties442, paper size properties 444 and location data 446. Document renderingproperties are suitably selectable by users via their portable datadevices.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of communication flow 500between MFP 504 and portable user data device 508, such as a smartphoneor tablet computer. Data device 508 requests location information fromMFP 504 at block 512. MFP 504 responds by supplying the device with itslocation data at block 516. Device 508 obtains user device needs,filters for compatible MFPs and displays results to a user at block 518.Navigation software is used to guide the user to a selected MFP at block520.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of a user touchscreen devicedisplay sequence 600 for a mobile app device search. Display 604illustrates device discovery mode wherein desired device properties maybe input by selection of button 612 or other user search criteriaentered by selection button 616. In the example, button 612 is selectedand search button 614 is then selected, resulting in generation ofdisplay 608 showing selectable printer properties 620. In thisparticular example, after selection of button 612′ and search button614′ the user is given a drop down option of printer capabilities suchas COLOR MODE, TONER MODE, DUPLEX, DISTANCE, along with an option todisplay more options. For each drop down option, the user can enterspecific keywords or phrases associated with each option using selectionbutton 616′.

FIG. 7 illustrates a user device display sequence 700, suitablyfollowing user selections made in connection with FIG. 6 . The sequenceincludes screens 704, 708 and 712. Screen 704 displays a subset of MFPs716 that satisfy the user's requirements. MFPs in the subset aredisplayed associatively with distances from the user, such as distance720. Also suitably displayed is associated status information, such aspaper out notification 724. When the user selects an MFP from display704, screen 708 is generated showing that their job is being sent totheir selected device. If the user desires navigation assistance to findtheir selected device, they may select navigation button 730 which thencauses generation of screen 712. Screen 712, generated with any suitablesoftware, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, or other mapping software. Inscreen 712, the user is also shown graphically their location 734 andtheir selected MFP location 736 on a map 732.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of an example embodiment of operations of asystem for identification and location of user identified, featurespecific MFPs. The process commences at block 804 and proceeds to block808 where a user is prompted on their device to enter their printerrequirements. These are entered at block 812, and a subset of MFPs thatmeet the user requirements is generated at block 816. Locationinformation for MFPs in the subset is obtained at block 820, and alocation of the user device is obtained at block 824. Distances betweenthe user device and MFPs of the subset is calculated at block 828, andthis information is displayed associatively with the subset of MFPs,along with an estimated duration for the user to get to each MFP atblock 832. A user selection from the displayed subset is received atblock 836 and a map generated and displayed at block 840. If the userelects to receive routing to the selected MFP at block 844, routing isdisplayed at block 848 before the process ends at block 852. If norouting is requested at block 844, the process proceeds directly to endblock 852.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit andscope of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a data interface configuredto receive, from each of a plurality of MFPs, MFP location datacorresponding to its current location; the data interface furtherconfigured to receive, from each of the plurality of MFPs, device statedata, the device state data including data identifying current deviceerrors and installed device software; a processor configured todetermine a current location of a digital user device in accordance withbeacon data received via a beacon interface; the processor furtherconfigured to generate user device location data corresponding to adetermined location; the processor further configured to show, on adisplay, a list of MFP device capabilities; the processor furtherconfigured to receive, via a user interface, a user selected subset ofthe MFP device capabilities; memory storing data, the memory furtherstoring the user device location data, and for each of the plurality ofMFPs, the MFP location data, the device state data, and device datacorresponding to its associated device properties; the user interfaceincluding a user input and a display; and a processor, the processorconfigured to receive user selected device properties in accordance withselection of desire MFP device capabilities from the list of MFP devicecapabilities received via the user interface, the processor furtherconfigured to identify a subset of the plurality of MFPs having the userselected device properties, the processor further configured todetermine a relative location of each of the subset of the plurality ofMFPs to the current location of the digital user device, the processorfurther configured to generate distance data corresponding to a distancebetween the portable data device and each of the subset of the pluralityof MFPs, and the processor further configured to generate a displaycorresponding to an identified subset of MFPs contemporaneously withassociated distance data, active device errors specified by the devicestate data, and installed device software.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein the properties of the plurality of MFPs include MFP documentfinishing capabilities.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the documentfinishing capabilities include one or more of duplex printing, stapling,hole punching or color capabilities.
 4. The system of claim 1 whereinthe processor is further configured to receive the MFP location datafrom each of the plurality of MFPs.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein theprocessor is further configured to receive a user selected MFP from thesubset of MFPs via the user input and generate a display map on thedisplay corresponding to both the current location of the digital userdevice and location of the user selected MFP.
 6. The system of claim 5wherein the distance data is comprised of an estimated time to walk tothe user selected MFP from the current location of the digital userdevice.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the display map includesdirections from the current location of the digital user device to thelocation of the user selected MFP.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein thecurrent location of the digital user device is determined via an indoorpositioning system.
 9. A method comprising: receiving into a memory,from each of a plurality of MFPs, MFP location data corresponding to itscurrent location via a data interface; receiving beacon data via abeacon data interface; determining, via a processor, a current locationof a digital user device in accordance received beacon data; generatinguser device location data corresponding to a determined location;storing, in the memory, data corresponding to properties of each of aplurality of MFPs; storing, device state data, the device state dataincluding data defining current device errors and current software, thesoftware including a device firmware version; storing, the user devicelocation data in the memory; displaying a list MFP capabilities;receiving user selected device properties selected from the displayedlist via a user interface; storing, the MFP location data in the memory;identifying a subset of the plurality of MFPs having the user selecteddevice properties; determining a relative location of each of theplurality of MFPs to the current location of the digital user device;generating distance data corresponding to a distance between theportable data device and each of the subset of the plurality of MFPs;and generating a display corresponding to an identified subset of MFPscontemporaneously with the distance data, identified device errors andcurrent software.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the properties ofthe plurality of MFPs include MFP document finishing capabilities. 11.The method of claim 10 wherein the document finishing capabilitiesinclude one or more of duplex printing, stapling, hole punching or colorcapabilities.
 12. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving theMFP location data from each of the plurality of MFPs.
 13. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising receiving a user selected MFP from the subsetof MFPs via the user input and generating a display map on the displaycorresponding to both the current location of the digital user deviceand location of the user selected MFP.
 14. The method of claim 13wherein the distance data is comprised of an estimated time to walk tothe user selected MFP from the current location of the digital userdevice.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the display map includesdirections from the current location of the digital user device to thelocation of the user selected MFP.
 16. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising determining the current location of the digital user devicevia an indoor positioning system.